[Game] Kings @ Lakers - 1/20/16 - 7:30 PT, 10:30 ET

#5
This particular game against them is worth more than your average game. Let's not waste this opportunity, seeing as we wasted the last 2-3 already. Progress has to be made!
 

funkykingston

Super Moderator
Staff member
#7
Had the Kings won at home vs the Blazers, Sixers and Pelicans they'd be .500, in clear possession of 8th place, have pushed two of their rivals for the last playoff spots (Portland & New Orleans who is starting to get things together) a game back in the standings and could very well be looking at tomorrow night as a chance to move into 7th place if the Kings beat the Lakers and Houston falls to Detroit.

The margin for error for the second half of the season is now very slim if the Kings hope to be playing in the postseason.
 

kingsboi

Hall of Famer
#8
so I wonder if Russell will have another big night because he is much more confident now and he has been making nice strides for LA...I wouldn't expect anything less out of him in this one. Kings will probably lose this one just based on the fact that they had all these days to rest and will take their opponent lightly once again.
 
#11
the way the lakers finished the last game against us i feel like they will come out strong.

We must do all we can to start well and to put them in their place. If we let them get their spirit up early on we could well be in for a dog fight
 

Tetsujin

The Game Thread Dude
#12
Our supposed sharpshooting SG free agent acquisition is currently shooting a worse percentage from beyond the arc than the most dominant big man in the NBA so that's apparently a thing. He's also shooting worse than noted horrible jump shooter Rajon Rondo so that's not good either.
 
#15
I also think that this is an extremely important game to win. I also wish that Omri comes out blazing against Byron Scott who almost cost his NBA career in Cleveland. Anyway, it's showtime and Boogie and Willie should dominate the paint while Rudy can take advantage of it.
 
K

KingMilz

Guest
#16
Our supposed sharpshooting SG free agent acquisition is currently shooting a worse percentage from beyond the arc than the most dominant big man in the NBA so that's apparently a thing. He's also shooting worse than noted horrible jump shooter Rajon Rondo so that's not good either.
Honestly Derrick Williams and JT were better than what 2k and Belly have been and they made less money.
 
#17
Honestly Derrick Williams and JT were better than what 2k and Belly have been and they made less money.
From my point of view there is a huge gap between JT and KK. KK is a rock solid backup center and fringe starter. He has proven that for several years. Of course he is somewhat slowfooted and has trouble when forced to defend alongside Cousins. But it doesn't make him a bad player, that he is not the ideal fit for Cousins.
I don't think, that our bigs are the problem of this team.
 
K

KingMilz

Guest
#18
From my point of view there is a huge gap between JT and KK. KK is a rock solid backup center and fringe starter. He has proven that for several years. Of course he is somewhat slowfooted and has trouble when forced to defend alongside Cousins. But it doesn't make him a bad player, that he is not the ideal fit for Cousins.
I don't think, that our bigs are the problem of this team.
They are definitely not worth the money we paid them and the pick swap we gave up . 41 games into the season they both provided little off course this could change. Niether have played well at all this year Kosta has not played better than either WCS or Acy when both are give his playing time.

Both have to step it up and help us more
 
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#19
They are definitely not worth the money we paid them and the pick swap we gave up . 41 games into the season they both provided little off course this could change. Niether have played well at all this year Kosta has not played better than either WCS or Acy when both are give his playing time.

Both have to step it up and help us more
The pick swap doesn't bother me because I seriously doubt that it will ever be used. When are the Sixers going to be better than the Kings?
 
#20
Koufos has played very good defense and his hook shot is very steady. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/koufoko01.html

I liked JT as the third Big. He is glued to the bench at GSW. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thompja02.html

Belinelli's shooting percentages are down from his previous seasons. Why do you think that is? http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/belinma01.html

That said look at Derrick Williams stats. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willide02.html
 
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#22
Koufos has been very good when he has played C by himself. Great at using verticality and very good post defender. It just so happens he is the most like Cousins on defense from our crop of bigs. I will say his hands are pretty bad, bobbles passes and rebounds way too much, especially when you're used to seeing Cousins vacuum everything in sight.
 
#23
Do not know what folks were expecting from KK and Beli, starters? No way, and they are not payed as starters.
They are bench players, very good bench players, and that is what we got and that is how they play.

KK gives us chance to rest Cus from time to time without getting blown out of the game.
Beli is used too much as a starter so he looks worse, but he is very solid as a sub.

Heck, our bench is now outscoring opponents bench from time to time and keeps us in the game. That was not the case with any other lineup in the recent past.

Get starting SG (the last missing link), give time for team to gel and we are golden.
 
I

Im Still Ballin

Guest
#24
Finallyyyyyyyyyy

Been waiting forever for another Kings game. Seems like we've had a whole lot of 3 day breaks already.
 
#26
I hope we see a Cousins-WCS-Casspi combo at some point
Last night on KHTK, George Karl was saying a lot of the reason behind WCS's 13 minutes against LAC was to "protect him" from having to guard smaller players. I dont know about you all, but I am so tired of George acting like he's acting in Willie's best interest by shielding him from challenges.

Willie will only grow if he plays against competition he's not familiar with. We can't keep "protecting" our 1st round draft pick. He clearly makes a difference. Hell, i'd say he might be a better perimeter defender than Marco.

So with all that said, I'm not holding my breath on seeing much WCS this season. IMO, he's not polished enough offensively for Karl's liking so he gets benched with excuses like he's out of shape or defending smaller players isn't in his best interest.
 
#27
Last night on KHTK, George Karl was saying a lot of the reason behind WCS's 13 minutes against LAC was to "protect him" from having to guard smaller players. I dont know about you all, but I am so tired of George acting like he's acting in Willie's best interest by shielding him from challenges.

Willie will only grow if he plays against competition he's not familiar with. We can't keep "protecting" our 1st round draft pick. He clearly makes a difference. Hell, i'd say he might be a better perimeter defender than Marco.

So with all that said, I'm not holding my breath on seeing much WCS this season. IMO, he's not polished enough offensively for Karl's liking so he gets benched with excuses like he's out of shape or defending smaller players isn't in his best interest.
He played 23 minutes in Utah. I hate this notion that Karl is purposely sabotaging this team. There are situations when playing Casspi, Gay and Cousins is best for the frontline, especially when Cuz has a very favorable matchup. Karl obviously thinks enough of WCS to start him, he can see that is where he will end up before long. If our goal is to make the playoffs you don't want to run a rookie to the ground.
 
#28
He played 23 minutes in Utah. I hate this notion that Karl is purposely sabotaging this team. There are situations when playing Casspi, Gay and Cousins is best for the frontline, especially when Cuz has a very favorable matchup. Karl obviously thinks enough of WCS to start him, he can see that is where he will end up before long. If our goal is to make the playoffs you don't want to run a rookie to the ground.
upload_2016-1-20_11-31-52.png
https://www.teamrankings.com/nba/team/sacramento-kings/roster

This is the first website I could find that laid out total minutes on the season. But Willie has played 460 minutes this season. Marco has over twice as much, and Kosta is just under twice as much. I dont think we're running the risk of running Willie into the ground. His finger injuries have allowed him to condition himself while reducing the wear and tear on his body. Let's see the kid play. We're a better team when he's on the court.
 
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gunks

Hall of Famer
#29
I don't think anyone here thinks Karl is purposefully sabotaging the team (although, I must admit that I briefly entertained the theory earlier on in the season)... I think a lot of us just find his coaching decisions iffy.
 

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
#30
I don't think anyone here thinks Karl is purposefully sabotaging the team (although, I must admit that I briefly entertained the theory earlier on in the season)...
I have trouble believing that many Kings Fans (aside from the occasional conspiracy theorist) think that Karl is intentionally sabotaging the team. I think that that's just a convenient straw man for Karl's defenders to tear down.